Four affiliates from the StroNGER S.r.l. research group attended the annual ASCE/SEI Structures Conference in Pittsburgh. Dr. Crosti presented on forensic investigations of a collapsed metal truss structure. Ms. Brando contributed on robustness assessment of steel truss bridges using the I-35 Minnesota bridge. Mr. Olmati's contribution was on robustness assessment of long span suspension bridges. Dr. Crosti, Dr. Gkoumas and Mr. Olmati extended their stays to visit colleagues in various locations in North America.

1. Four affiliates of the StroNGER S.r.l. and the Franco Bontempi research group at School of Civil
and Industrial Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, attended the annual ASCE/SEI
Structures Conference held in Pittsburgh, PA (May 2-4). They contributed to the special session on
structural robustness organized by Dr. Gkoumas and Prof. Clay Naito (Associate Professor and
Associate Chair, Lehigh University).
Dr. Crosti gave a presentation on forensic investigations for the collapse of a metal truss structure
StroNGERStroNGER S.r.lS.r.l. @ 2013 STRUCTURE CONGRESS. @ 2013 STRUCTURE CONGRESS
Dr. Crosti gave a presentation on forensic investigations for the collapse of a metal truss structure
(http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/21281404).
Ms. Brando had a contribution on the robustness assessment of steel truss bridges, using the I-35
Minnesota bridge as a case study (http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/21265627).
Mr. Olmati’s contribution was on the robustness assessment of long span suspension bridges
(http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/21281560 )
More information about the conference, held this time in Pittsburgh, known as both "the Steel City"
for its more than 300 related businesses and "the City of Bridges" for its world record 446 bridges
can be found in http://content.asce.org/conferences/structures2013.
Dr. Crosti, Dr. Gkoumas and Mr. Olmati prolonged their staying abroad for respectively one, two
and four weeks, visiting colleagues at Universities, research centers and private firms, in NYC(NY),
Bethlehem (PA), Buffalo (NY), Gaithersburg (MD) and Montreal (CA), engaging in research,
professional and recreational activities.